Direction indicator



Oct. 9, 1928. 1,687,419

J. Y. AlNsA DIRECTION INDCATOR INVENTOR Oct. 9, 1928. ,1,687,419

J. Y. AlNsA DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed March 22, 1926' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR ATTORNEY crank arm positioned within the vehicle and r Patented Oct. 9, 1928.l

1,681,419 PATENT ori-"ICE,

JOSEPH Y. AINSA, 0l' HOBENGI, ARIZONA.y

nmac'rion mnrca'ron,

Application led Irarch 22, 1926. Serial 10,961,590. I

This invention relates to improvements in indicators for use upon motor vehicles for indicating the intentions and direction of travel to be taken by a preceding vehicle.

Another object bf the invention residin in the provision of a manually o erate within convenient reach of the driver and in turn being associated with a rod connected with an offset lever mounted upon the vehicle and carrying an illuminated Isignal upon its outer end and capable of being moved to the various positions relevant to the inclinations of a signal indicatin the direction of travel to be taken by suc vehicle.

A further object 'of the invention residing in the rovision of a locking late for the manual y operated crank arm aving a re.- lease shaft included within thev mounting therefor and which when depressed will release the crank arm from the locking plate whereby the signal may drop down to its normal positio With the above and other objects in view, the invention `further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafterv more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out Ain the appende claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a fragmentary portion of an automobile illustrating the manner in which the invention is'applied and operated there- Figure 2 is a transverse section taken through a portion of the vehicle and illustrating the mountings and invention thereon. v

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the operating mechanism.

.Figure 4 is a sectional viewl thereof.

Figure 5 are perspectives of the release mechanism for the manually operated crank arm.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective of the o erating arm to the si al.

Re erring to the drawings in detail, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates an att-aching plate arranged within operations of the the motor vehicle above the windshield and directly in advance and convenient reach of the motor vehicle driver and having an inwardly extending tubular member 11 provided thereon and including a reduced ex- I thereon.

ings.l Received upon the tubular member 11' is an enlarged apertured portion 14 rovided p.

in one corner of a quadrant-sha e lockin plate 15 and having diametrically cutout portions 16-pr0vided in the lopposite sidesA thereof, the purpose of which will' be presently apparent. A compression sprin 17 encircling the tubular member 11 an normally forcing and holding the locking plate 15 in the position, as noted in Figure 4 of the drawing, while-thelatter being restricted' as to movement inv an opposite direction by the mounting of the inner end ortion 18 of a crank arm 19 which in turn olding the transversely disposed ke 20 provided upon the inner endof a re ease pin -21'within the transversely disposed-slotted portion 13 provided inthe tubular member 11 and reducedexteriorly threaded portion 12 and within' the' diametrically opposed cutout portion 16 provided within the enlarged apertured portion. 14 of the locking plate 15 when fo lowed by a nut such as indicated at 22 upon the outer reduced exteriorly threaded portion 12.` The outer end of the release pin 21 having a disc 23 provided thereon to facilitate the depressing of the latter at the will of the motor vehicle o erator. The outer surface of the locking p ate 15 adjacent'the crank arm 19 having a plurality of spring iingers24, 24 and 242 struck threrefrom at spaced intervals adjacent the curved edge therefor for holding the said crank arm 19 in desired positions A hollow operatingarm such as indicated at 25 providing a semi-circular portion 26 provided adjacent its inner end and vhavin a bearing shaft 27 extending inwardly t erefrom'and having a lever 28 secured to its opposite end within the vehicle and associated with one end of a connecting rod 29 having its opposite end pivotally secured at an appropriate point in the length of the manually o rated crank arm 19 and which also provi es a semi-cire cular portion- 30 at an appropriate point in its length in order that the said rod 29 when "moved to the position, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, will have ample and sufficient clearance from the disc 23 carried upon the outer end of the release pin 21`and offering no resistance to the oppose operation thereof. The outer extremities or' the operating arm 25 having an illuminated signalling or lamp box 31 secured thereto and receiving its source of electrical energy from the motor vehicle storage battery through a conducting wire 82 extending through the operating rod 25.

ln the mode of operation of the present invention it is clearly apparent and manifest that the manually operated crank arm 19 may be moved downwardly from its normal position as clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing adjacent one of the struck and upstanding spring ingers 24, 24 and 242 lrespectively to oscillate the connecting arm 29 transversely of the vehicle or swinging the operating arm 25 to the various dotted line positions as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings to give a correct signal as to the direction of travel or intentions of the driver of a preceding or approaching vehicle. lt is to be noted that the various spring fingers will hold the manually operated crank arm 19 in the various positions and relevant to the dotted line positions of t-he operating arm 25.

When the signal has been given and the motor vehicle conducted in pursuance thereto the disc 23 provided upon the outer lfree end, the release pin 21 is then depressed in order that the key 20 provided upon the forward end thereof, being normally fitted and received within the cutout portions 16 provided within diametrically opposite sides of f the enlarged portion la of the locking plate 15 will move the locking plate 15 rearwardly, as a whole, against the tension of the compression spring 17 whereby the particular spring linger will be released from contacting engagement with the manually operated crank arm 19 whereby the operating arm 25 of its own Weight and the additional weight of the illuminated signal box 31 carried upon its outer end will move downwardly and cause the connecting' rod or arm 29 to rotate and swing the manually operated crank arm 19 to its normal inactive position as clearly illustrated in Figure 3 or the drawing. llt is to be noted 'from the operation of the invention that the manually operated crank Leer/,aie

arm 19 has now a slight movement to bring the latter into engagement with the particular spring linger relevant to the signal given and does not distract nor in any way interere with the driving of the vehicle other than the removing of one hand from the motor vehicle steering wheel for a brief interval.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction, and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

,Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A device of4 the character described comprising an attaching plate, a tubular portion carried thereby provided with cutout portions, a. locking plate provided with spring ingers, a compression spring interposed therebetween, a collar carried by the locking plate mounted uponv the tubular portion having cut-out portions registering with the cut-out portions in the tubular portion, a crank arm journaled upon the tubular `portion adapted to engage said iingers, and

a release mechanism for the crank arm.

2. A device of the character described comprising an attaching plate, a tubular portion carried thereby provided with cutout portions, a locking plate provided with spring fingers struck at spaced intervals thereon, a compression spring interposed between the attaching and locking plates, a collar carried by the locking plate mounted upon and having cut-out portions registering with the cut-out portions in the tubular portion, a crank arm journaled upon the tubular portionl and adapted to be held in a desired position by the spring fingers, and a release pin provided with a horizontally disposed key adapted for reception within the aforementioned cut-out portions to impart sliding movement to the collar upon the tubular portion to release the spring iingers from locking engagement with the crank arm.

ln testimony whereofl afix my signature.

Josnrr-r r. Ainsa. 

